Treasure of Matecumbe

Ex-slave Ben arrives at Grassy and reveals that Davie's father hid a treasure map in a book at the plantation. He rips the map from the book and hands it to Davie and Thad, setting their quest in motion. Captain Spangler's men attack the plantation that night, and Ben is shot and killed as Effie helps the boys flee.

The boys flee down the Mississippi on a steamboat headed for New Orleans, hoping to reach safety with the map. A stowaway named Lauriette Paxton hides aboard and soon becomes involved with their escape. Lauriette cheats a gambler out of $400 and a ring, signaling the start of her uneasy alliance with the boys.

A thief steals Davie's wallet, which contains his money and the map, triggering pursuit. Lauriette tries to stop the thief and is shoved overboard; Davie and Thad jump in to rescue her, solidifying their bond. The trio continues downriver with Lauriette now officially along for the ride.

Lauriette trades her ring for a mule and cart to help the group travel more easily. In the next town, she betrays them by attempting to turn them in as runaways, but the boys manage to escape custody. The uneasy alliance between Lauriette and the boys continues as Spangler's men close in.

Davie and Thad meet snake oil salesman Dr. Ewing Snodgrass and join his traveling show. Lauriette discovers them in the audience and Spangler's men recognize the boys on stage, forcing Davie to flee. Snodgrass and Lauriette realize the map is real when Davie describes it, and Snodgrass begins embroidering a rough copy onto a handkerchief to help them keep the legend alive.

They seek Uncle Jim, whose home lies downriver at Friar's Point. At Friar's Point, the Ku Klux Klan threatens Jim for interfering in their business, and Davie, armed with a rifle from a captured Klansman, shoots the noose; Thad and Snodgrass lob Molotov cocktails to drive the mob away. The crew escapes as the Klan is temporarily repelled.

They press on with rivermen for the next leg of the journey. Lauriette's provocative dancing escorts the group into trouble with rough men; Jim rescues her from their advances. At the next landing, Spangler's men catch up aboard a small steamboat; Jim lures them away and is seemingly killed by Spangler's lieutenant, Catrell.

Davie, Thad, Lauriette, and Snodgrass double back and steal a steamboat to outrun Spangler. They blow up Snodgrass's keelboat to prevent pursuit, severing their ties to the villainous caravan. The quartet continues downriver, free but hunted, clutching clues to the treasure.

In New Orleans, they board a train heading for Florida, but Spangler's men are on their trail. The chase tightens as the group heads toward safer territory, keeping the map's legend alive. Their pursuers remain determined to capture Davie and seize the treasure.

Facing the Everglades, they hire guide Cooter Skaggs in Tampa to lead them toward Matecumbe. Skaggs betrays them and leads them to Spangler, while Snodgrass quietly hands over the embroidered map copy to Spangler to save Davie's life. The treacherous route through the swamp becomes a deadly race with time.

Uncle Jim arrives by boat, guided by his Seminole friend Charlie, to aid the group. Jim's arrival brings a moment of safety and leadership, and Lauriette reveals she and Jim are in love. The team presses on toward the treasure site, determined to outpace Spangler's men.

They reach the treasure site just as a hurricane strikes, sweeping Snodgrass out to sea. The group takes shelter in a Cougar burial ground and, after the storm, digs up the buried treasure. Spangler and his men pursue them into the burial ground, where the Cougars capture the villains to be slaves, allowing Davie and his friends to escape with the treasure.

Back on the beach, they recover the treasure and tend to Snodgrass, who is injured but alive. Jim and Lauriette decide to move to Grassy with Davie and Thad, and Davie invites Snodgrass to come live with them. The adventure ends with plans for a safer life and the map’s legend carried forward by friends.